Miramar police investigate couple's deaths as a murder-suicide

June 11, 2014|By Tonya Alanez, Sun Sentinel

MIRAMAR — A couple found dead in a Miramar apartment Tuesday morning likely died as the result of a murder-suicide, authorities said.

Jonathan Charles and Gabrielle Martin, both 21, had a child together, and lived in an apartment at 2440 E. Preserve Way with Martin's mother, who found their bodies and called police, said Tania Rues, a spokeswoman with the Miramar Police Department.

Martin's mother found the bodies in the couple's bedroom sometime before 10:15 a.m., Rues said. She declined to say how the couple died.

"At present time, it appears to be a murder-suicide," Rues said. "I can't disclose any more details. It's currently under investigation."

The child and Martin's mother were together and home overnight, Rues said.

The couple's 1-year-old son was doing "just fine" and was in the care of Martin's family, Martin's cousin, Antoinette Butler, 32, of Miami, said by telephone Wednesday afternoon.

Martin was a graduate of Miami Central High, Butler said.

"We're just coping together," Butler said. "We're all here as a family remembering the good and remembering Gabrielle as happy. She wasn't depressed. She wasn't troubled or anything. She was extremely happy. We are completely shocked."